Grendel's Exposure To Pisces, Empiricism

Troy Capalbo

Ms. McClelland

Honors English IV

February 5, 2018

Chapter Twelve: Grendel’s Exposure to Pisces, Empiricism, and Isolationism

“Poor Grendel’s had an accident… so may you all” (174) were the last words uttered by Grendel, a monster with human-like traits, before he passes away following his fateful battle with Beowulf, a strong warrior from The Land of the Geats. The novel Grendel by John Gardner is inspired by epic Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf, and is told through the perspective of Grendel, on his journey through life and his discovery of his purpose through the events he lives through. In this chapter, Grendel fights Beowulf, and meets his ultimate fate, freeing him from the endless, mechanical cycle in which he finds himself trapped.

In the last chapter of Grendel, the main character explores his purpose by demonstrating the traits of Pisces, shows his values of empiricism, and explores the power of language and his isolationist feelings leading up to his imminent death.
Beowulf, the powerful and smart warrior from Geatland, is the symbol of Pisces, the twelfth and final zodiac sign.

One characteristic of Pisces is portrayed by Grendel in this chapter when Grendel is on the brink of death. As Grendel is dying, he mutters out to the animals around him, “Poor Grendel’s had an accident… so may you all” (174). This shows that Grendel is feeling self-pity and sensitivity, two of the major characteristics of Pisces. He uses the word “accident” in an attempt to not lose his dignity and to say Beowulf is lucky. Grendel also shows more traits by seeing Beowulf during the battle as if he had wings. He says “...out of his shoulders come terrible fiery wings. I jerk my head, trying to draw out the illusion.” (169) This event shows that Grendel has become very imaginative and creative in his mind, another facet of Grendel’s discovery of Pisces. One final major trait of the Pisces is their impressionability. While Beowulf and Grendel are fighting, Beowulf whispers into Grendel’s ear, driving Grendel crazy with his language and speech. Beowulf proclaims, “And now something worse. He’s whispering - spilling words like showers of sleet, his mouth three inches from my ear” (169). “His syllables lick at me, chilly fire.” (170). In chapter twelve Grendel experiences new feelings and thoughts because of the symbol of Pisces in this chapter; Beowulf. Because of him, Grendel begins to show Pisces characteristics in his own notions and actions, which help bring

Grendel towards his discovery of his own purpose.
The philosophy known as Empiricism is brought forth in Chapter Twelve as Grendel fights Beowulf, and death looms over him.

One theory of Empiricism is that the origin of all knowledge comes from sense experience. In this chapter, there are so many senses and examples of deep imagery that show Beowulf is gaining knowledge of his surroundings first hand, with his own senses. Grendel says at one point in the novel that he “...sucks hot, slippery blood…” (168) from one of Beowulf's thanes, and that the “...napkins were sopping, and the dark floor steamed” (168). This intense imagery shows that Grendel picks up on more of his surroundings since he first emerged that dark cave, and he is learning through experiences such as these. Another aspect of Empiricism is that those who rely on sense experience have lesser skills when it comes to caution, as they have not experienced anything to make them be cautious yet. This can be seen when Grendel grabs Beowulf in the mead hall, thinking it will be just another human he can kill with ease. To his surprise, Beowulf has a grip so hard that Grendel voices, “Nowhere… have I encountered a grip like his”(168). Grendel’s lack of caution eventually leads to his death, and he is not cautious because he relies on sense experience, and he has never had a human battle him like Beowulf has, and he is not expecting it. A final aspect in this chapter that shows Grendel’s growth towards Empiricism is the conversation he has with Beowulf during their

fight. Beowulf speaks to Grendel and says, "'You make the world by whispers...Feel the wall: is it not hard?' He smashes me against the wall, breaks open my forehead..." (171). Here, Beowulf is making Grendel believe only in knowledge he gains from experience. He asks Grendel if the wall is hard, and then proves to Grendel that it is by smashing his head into the wall - making Grendel experience its hardness - showing Grendel the validity of Empiricism and further adding to his discovery of purpose.
Grendel's discovery of the power of language and his isolationism has also led him to discover more about his purpose. While Grendel is fighting Beowulf, Beowulf uses his strong language abilities to get into Grendel’s head. Beowulf’s language hurts Grendel just as much as his actions do. Beowulf tells Grendel his time is now, and that “Time is the mind, the hand that makes… by that I kill you” (170). These words make Grendel “...sick at heart” (170), and even makes him call for his mother. Grendel discovers just how badly words can hurt him. He also finds out that he feels isolation and alone which leads to his development of purpose. Grendel is so glad that strangers have finally come, new people he can massacre, that he is overeager. He goes into the mead hall with so much confidence and he is experiences defeat. After his beating, Grendel stumbles back into the woods, feeling alone once again. He calls out for his mother, then realizes “...her love is history”(173). There he now feels blank. He is aware his death is to come, and aware his only interactions and only sense of purpose is what has sent him to his death - and that is the people he fights, and those who fight against him. As he is dying, animals who he cannot talk to gather to watch, further showing Grendel just how alone and isolated he is. Grendel’s final contribution to his own purpose is the defense of his dignity by defying Beowulf’s victory as an act of heroism. The novel portrays to us that Beowulf’s victory was one of a pure hero, but as Grendel dies he says this is not true. He says “It was an accident,” I bellow back. I will cling to what is true. “Blind, mindless, mechanical. Mere logic of chance” (173). By doing this, Grendel is trying to explain his loss and make himself feel better about it. He discovers that his purpose is fading, and needs this explanation to comfort himself.